Your wedding photography: what to expect – Pt 2: Wedding Ceremony
The first post in this series on what to expect from me as your wedding photographer looked at coverage of the wedding preparations and how I as your wedding photographer could help you to remember that important time. Not all couples choose to have their preparations form part of the photographic story of their day. The subject of today’s post, on the other hand, is pretty essential.
My approach to photography of the wedding ceremony is in many ways not dissimilar from my broader approach to wedding photography. The key thing for me during the ceremony is to ensure that the focus of all of your friends and family is on you – the last thing I want is for people to be distracted and looking towards me. That is why I don’t use flash at all during the ceremony. I’ve invested in top quality photographic equipment and have yet to photograph a wedding ceremony in a venue too dark for me to produce beautiful photos of what is the defining part of your wedding day.
As well as avoiding flash, you can be sure that I won’t be imposing on your space. I’ve heard horror stories of wedding photographers crouching down next to the minister or registrar. I’m sure they produce wonderful images but to my mind they are putting their photography ahead of the experience of the day and that isn’t something I would want to be known for. As your wedding photographer I aim to, and believe I can, enhance your day and give you wonderful photos to remember it.
When I’m photographing the wedding ceremony there are two types of photos that I’m looking for. There are the key traditional moments: the bride walking down the aisle, the exchanging of rings, the first kiss and such. These are essential elements of the story of your day and as your wedding photographer you can be sure I’ll be ready to record them. Alongside these ‘standard’ moments I’ll also be looking to capture some of the more natural and personal moments: the groom’s nerves those last five minutes before his bride arrives and the burst of smile when he sees her for the first time. The proud father looking on. The inevitable nervous giggle that breaks the silence when the minister asks if anyone objects. It is these photos that I think make wedding photography more than a mere record of the day.
It is worth me adding on a final note a comment about what might be termed ‘difficult’ ministers and registrars, who might set strict rules about photography during the service. Whilst ultimately I have to work within their constraints, I have usually found that friendly chat in advance of the wedding can go a long way. By explaining my approach and emphasis on discretion and professionalism I can often persuade them to have a little more trust in me than they would with a less experienced wedding photographer.
Newcastle Wedding photographer Mark Richardson provides a friendly and professional wedding photography service. By combining the best elements of traditional wedding photography and contemporary wedding photography, he is able to tell the whole story of your wedding day.Get in touch to discuss your wedding photography.
